Major General (retd) S.P. Sinha's remarks during a TV debate on exodus of Kashmiri Pandits created a furore, with several veterans also criticising him for it.
India cannot be blasé about change in any important capital in the world. Let's look at six key areas where US policy matters for India and how it may vary between Harris and Trump.
In Episode 1544 of CutTheClutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at some top economists pointing to the pitfalls of ‘currency nationalism’ with data from 1991 to 2004.
Troops patrolled up to Patrolling Point (PP) 10 on Monday. Though there are PP 10, 11, 12, 12A & 13 in Depsang Plains, it was decided that only one or two PPs would be patrolled.
While we talk much about our military, we don’t put our national wallet where our mouth is. Nobody is saying we should double our defence spending, but current declining trend must be reversed.
Maj Gen SP Sinha was in the Army Ordinance Corps which is not even an arm. It would be interesting to know what is the closest posting he had to the border. Further the channels deliberately want such shouting generals to dish out a tamasha. While statements were made in intemperate language, the fact remains we must extract revengeful justice for what Pakistan did to Kashmir and some Kashmiri Muslims did to Hindus. Why was the media quiet from 1987 to 1990 when a genocide cum looting was done? Ask those who suffered.
Wrong logic idiot in Army AOC soldiers are also attached to infantry many times.
We do have some exceptions like Maj Gens Sinha and GD Bakshi who spout venom after a few appearances on TV as ‘Experts’. They are a disgrace to the Army. I wonder how they ever reached so high a rank.
We now have a Chief who is controversial and trying to make a break with traditions that have made our Armed Forces so apolitical and efficient. He keeps shooting his mouth off on fighting a two and a half front War when there are serious deficiencies for even a one front war.
His latest thrust on laying a Code of Conduct for veterans to include punitive actions on defaulters is the most idiotic one. He doesn’t seem to be aware of the Constitutional rights of retired personnel who are now civilians. It seems like a reaction to all the criticism against him by veterans on the social media. We have to suffer him for another 3 years because he will surely be made the CDS.
Chief has job to give befitting reply to enemy Antics. Don’t bring him here.
I think time has come when TV channels must know that every retired army / Navy / Air Force officer was not an expert on military tactics / strategy and conduct of operations . Those who have never dealt with insurgency / militancy are not qualified to comment . In the instant case , SP Sinha is an ordinance officer —- who had no idea of insurgency . How does he become an expert on conduct of counter militancy operations? Also , a higher rank does not make a veteran an expert —- think of Liddel Hart — a capt who taught the generals . In India, particularly in media , there was a misconception that Generals think better than Colonels .
You are wrong regarding AOC officers not seeing insurgency or combat?
Aim of so called code is not to check people like SP Sinha or GD Bakshi. The COAS is more worried about criticism of his stupid policies which have harmed the cause of welfare of veterans. COAS and also Govt of the day does not want anyone to take on them for their shortcomings. Comments by veteran on Moth eaten OROP, Taxing Disability pensions, challenging cases in Supreme Court where AFT Grants pensions, not removing anomalies of 7th CPC, degradation of status of Army Officers etc etc are not liked by Govt of the day and COAS being their chosen man.
Aim of Code is to shut the mouth of veterans who raise just issues affecting the veterans.
SP Sinha etc will continue to spew venom on TV debates. … that Code will not affect them.
Sp Sinha and GD Bakshi belong to a shouting brigade who think shouts win the argument . The fault lay with media and a TV channels who get such people for debates . There is a need to accredit veterans for expert opinions in media . Every Tom, Dick and Harry can not be an expert on conduct of counter militancy operations —- as every combat arm veteran can not be an expert of logistics or technical issues . At the time of retirement , selected colonels and above should be classified as experts on their disciplines . Everyone must not be called by media for comments
TV first allowed the General to say what he wanted and then attempting to control him is hypocritical to core. Why not TV channel make them to sign a code of conduct and any who breaks it should be depanlised then and there.
Some years ago – before veterans began appearing like mushrooms after a shower on TV – I saw General V P Malik on CNN and was impressed by the authority with which he spoke. Maj Gen G D Bakshi made his appearance at the time of the controversy over the Chief’s date of birth, has carved a niche for himself, a natural partner for Arnab Goswami. There is no need for veterans to be an almost daily feature on our TV screens. India is still not at war. Those who appear, whatever their point of view, should help maintain our respect for the armed forces. 2. I have always believed military officials should not be in politics. Would now add diplomats to that list.
Veterans only tried to prove what is already known in army with conviction that army is a collection of clever people commanded by most clever and intelligent.
Maj Gen SP Sinha was in the Army Ordinance Corps which is not even an arm. It would be interesting to know what is the closest posting he had to the border. Further the channels deliberately want such shouting generals to dish out a tamasha. While statements were made in intemperate language, the fact remains we must extract revengeful justice for what Pakistan did to Kashmir and some Kashmiri Muslims did to Hindus. Why was the media quiet from 1987 to 1990 when a genocide cum looting was done? Ask those who suffered.
Wrong logic idiot in Army AOC soldiers are also attached to infantry many times.
We do have some exceptions like Maj Gens Sinha and GD Bakshi who spout venom after a few appearances on TV as ‘Experts’. They are a disgrace to the Army. I wonder how they ever reached so high a rank.
We now have a Chief who is controversial and trying to make a break with traditions that have made our Armed Forces so apolitical and efficient. He keeps shooting his mouth off on fighting a two and a half front War when there are serious deficiencies for even a one front war.
His latest thrust on laying a Code of Conduct for veterans to include punitive actions on defaulters is the most idiotic one. He doesn’t seem to be aware of the Constitutional rights of retired personnel who are now civilians. It seems like a reaction to all the criticism against him by veterans on the social media. We have to suffer him for another 3 years because he will surely be made the CDS.
Chief has job to give befitting reply to enemy Antics. Don’t bring him here.
I think time has come when TV channels must know that every retired army / Navy / Air Force officer was not an expert on military tactics / strategy and conduct of operations . Those who have never dealt with insurgency / militancy are not qualified to comment . In the instant case , SP Sinha is an ordinance officer —- who had no idea of insurgency . How does he become an expert on conduct of counter militancy operations? Also , a higher rank does not make a veteran an expert —- think of Liddel Hart — a capt who taught the generals . In India, particularly in media , there was a misconception that Generals think better than Colonels .
You are wrong regarding AOC officers not seeing insurgency or combat?
Aim of so called code is not to check people like SP Sinha or GD Bakshi. The COAS is more worried about criticism of his stupid policies which have harmed the cause of welfare of veterans. COAS and also Govt of the day does not want anyone to take on them for their shortcomings. Comments by veteran on Moth eaten OROP, Taxing Disability pensions, challenging cases in Supreme Court where AFT Grants pensions, not removing anomalies of 7th CPC, degradation of status of Army Officers etc etc are not liked by Govt of the day and COAS being their chosen man.
Aim of Code is to shut the mouth of veterans who raise just issues affecting the veterans.
SP Sinha etc will continue to spew venom on TV debates. … that Code will not affect them.
Sp Sinha and GD Bakshi belong to a shouting brigade who think shouts win the argument . The fault lay with media and a TV channels who get such people for debates . There is a need to accredit veterans for expert opinions in media . Every Tom, Dick and Harry can not be an expert on conduct of counter militancy operations —- as every combat arm veteran can not be an expert of logistics or technical issues . At the time of retirement , selected colonels and above should be classified as experts on their disciplines . Everyone must not be called by media for comments
TV first allowed the General to say what he wanted and then attempting to control him is hypocritical to core. Why not TV channel make them to sign a code of conduct and any who breaks it should be depanlised then and there.
Some years ago – before veterans began appearing like mushrooms after a shower on TV – I saw General V P Malik on CNN and was impressed by the authority with which he spoke. Maj Gen G D Bakshi made his appearance at the time of the controversy over the Chief’s date of birth, has carved a niche for himself, a natural partner for Arnab Goswami. There is no need for veterans to be an almost daily feature on our TV screens. India is still not at war. Those who appear, whatever their point of view, should help maintain our respect for the armed forces. 2. I have always believed military officials should not be in politics. Would now add diplomats to that list.
Veterans only tried to prove what is already known in army with conviction that army is a collection of clever people commanded by most clever and intelligent.